Catwoman #42
Recap
You know what they say—some of them are gonna love you, and some of them are gonna hate you—but it doesn’t matter as long as they need you. Black Mask wants to be the dirty little secret of the Gotham underworld, but Catwoman’s even better at being a secret when she needs to be. Thankfully she’s not afraid to have a little help—from Valmont, Onyx, and the newly minted Tomcat…exactly the kind of guy to let her in the house.
Review
I was a little surprised when I saw this story arc was only four issues long with this issue concluding the chapter. I was even more surprised with how satisfied I felt with the wrap-up. Now that “Dangerous Liaisons” is over, I can safely say Tini Howard and Nico Leon have something special in their hands.
I absolutely love Howard’s take on Selina Kyle. She’s fun, very sarcastic and playful, but also very emotional. She wants to save all of her strays, but it’s not possible. The ending sees Catwoman return to Kristi’s workplace to find her coworkers and friends have built a memorial to her. This scene is heartbreaking, elevated by Nico Leon’s stellar artwork.
While on the topic of art, Leon has blown me away with his pencils. There are still moments of complete anime-esque ridiculousness that I’ve grown to love. And I can’t sell colorist Veronica Gandini short, as her colors have bolstered the art tremendously. The vibrant colors of Eiko Hasigawa’s Yakuza are a real standout.
I’m so excited to see what’s in store in the coming stories of this run. Tini Howard has set up a great little supporting cast with Valmont, Dario (who apparently goes by Tomcat?), Onyx, and the crime families of Gotham. I hope we continue to see Catwoman championing the downtrodden women of the world.
Final Thoughts
Tini Howard and Nico Leon have done impressive work with the start of their run on Catwoman. These four issues are a perfect glimpse into Catwoman and what makes the anti-heroine tick. If you're interested in the character but find her comic history jarring, start here! You won't be disappointed.
Catwoman #42: Some Girl
- Writing - 9.5/109.5/10
- Storyline - 10/1010/10
- Art - 10/1010/10
- Color - 10/1010/10
- Cover Art - 8.5/108.5/10